The Kingdom's Crown (Inheritance of Hunger #3) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,1

it or not, I was going to find a way to thrust Thao into focus at some point during the visit.

"I think my mother is equally flustered over both of you. The Popes have never hosted royalty."

"I hope they aren't going to too much trouble," I said, frowning.

All three men scoffed at the idea, and Wendell squeezed my hand before I could object again. "I did my best to reassure her that you are very humble and agreeable and of all your loveliest qualities," he said, leaning in to press a kiss to my forehead and another to the tip of my nose. "I doubt it did any good."

"Speaking of new Chosen," Cosmo started.

"I thought we'd moved on from that—"

"How is Cresswell? I have trouble reading the pair of you," Cosmo said.

I groaned and Wendell shifted, letting me hide my face against the soft sweater he was wearing, his hand soothing over my back.

"I hardly know," I mumbled. "I thought we'd reached some moment of understanding days ago, but he's barely touched me since. He takes his position very seriously and seems to be under the impression it leaves no room for us to be together."

"You could remove him from your guard," Thao said with a shrug.

I lifted my head from Wendell's chest and shook my head. "It isn't that I haven't considered the idea, only that it seems cruel. It means a great deal to him."

"As much as I want you to be happy with him, I'm relieved he's coming with us to the south as your guard," Cosmo said softly. "I'm not sure there's anyone I trust with that duty as well as him."

I nodded and sighed, glancing out the window as if I might see Cresswell passing by. He was probably at the back with Aric. "Unfortunately, I feel the same."

"We will find a way to make time for the two of you to come together," Wendell said, twisting a finger through a loose curl over my shoulder.

"I should think two tigers and a mage ought to do as well as one head guard in protecting you," Thao said, nodding.

"I object to violence, but I am very handy with a chisel," Cosmo said lightly.

I smiled to hide the sting the words conjured in my chest. Cosmo seemed to either have reconciled himself to my killing Emory, or was able to effectively ignore the memory. I wasn't sure the same could be said of myself, the man's face appearing in my thoughts at the oddest moments.

I wanted to put Emory and his death behind me, but I was too aware of the weight of the future. Camellia had tried to leave Sam in my court in a poorly considered assassination attempt. Sam had proved too happy to be liberated from my sister, but what if the next arrow she sent in my direction was sharper? We were headed south to the castle, where I would be in regular proximity to the dangers she posed, not just to myself but to my Chosen. She'd already attempted to force Owen to fuck her once, what if she found another opportunity to do the same to him, or Cosmo, or Daniel, or any of my men?

Whether Camellia was the direct threat, or she found another vessel, I was afraid Emory's blood was not the last I would wear on my hands.

"Bryony," Wendell murmured, and I startled, realizing all their gazes were fixed to me.

I shook myself and forced a smile. "I think an unconsummated love affair is the least of my worries, really. Cresswell and I will find our moment."

The Pope estate rested in the heart of the Highminster Woods, just south of where the foothills seemed to roll to a weary stop. We'd only rested for a brief picnic, and it was very late and the woods were dense, but the modest manor home we approached glowed sweetly within the canopy. A pair of servants appeared in the doorway before we rolled to a stop, and they hurried down the small front steps to meet the carriage and take our bags.

"This is very pretty, Wendell," I said as Thao and I crowded the window to peer up at the house.

Daniel had joined us in the carriage, taking Wendell's seat, who moved to squeeze in with Cosmo and Thao.

"It's not Danser Hall but—"

"But it's probably in a great deal less debt," Daniel answered to Wendell wryly.

It was smaller than Danser Hall, but also less austere. Rose trellises rose up along the